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Por La Libre (Dust to Dust)
The Movie
Por la Libre (Dust to Dust), the 2000 Mexican film from director Juan Carlos de Llaca, demonstrates that even the lightest of comedies can coast by on charismatic leads, enjoyable characters, beautiful scenery, and the breeziest of plots. The story deals with the death of grandpa Rodrigo Carnicero (Xavier Masse), a free-spirited doctor whose demise inspires petty squabbling among his various children. His will stipulates that he doesn't want any kind of religious service, but that's exactly what his children provide. The bulk of his estate is left to his old friend Felipe, much to the chagrin and consternation of his offspring. Only his two loving grandsons, first cousins Rocco (Osvaldo Benavides) and Rodrigo (Rodrigo Cachero), act in accordance with Grandpa's wishes: Rocco grabs Grandpa's ashes, and steals his grandfather's old Mercedes. Rodrigo leaps into the car as well, joining Rocco on a roadtrip to Acapulco in order to deposit Grandpa's ashes into the ocean.
And that's basically the setup. The rest of the movie details the adventures of the yuppie-esque Rodrigo and the free-spirited, dope-smoking Rocco. It's a "buddy roadtrip comedy", no doubt, and similar to most of the like, Por La Libre is short on plot and long on character moments. Rocco and Rodrigo spend time getting to know more about each other, their families, and the man they knew as their grandfather. Rocco also meets and spends a night of passion with the unbelievably and luminously beautiful Maria (Ana de la Reguera), a young woman who works at the hotel in which Rodrigo and Rocco spend the night. The resolution of this particular subplot is, depending on your point of view, either utterly shocking or wonderfully hysterical. Or both, perhaps. In either case, the movie doesn't judge.
That's what I enjoyed about Por la Libre. It has a breezy vibe, engaging characters, and flies through its 96-minute running time without extraneous plot contrivances, superfluous narrative, or wasted characters. de Llaca's direction is tight and smart, and the film features some strong cinematography which beautifully frames the stunning vistas of Acapulco. By the time Por la Libre ended, I found myself yearning to stay in this world. If that's not the definition of a good movie, then I don't know what is.
The DVD
Video:
Por La Libre is presented in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and has been anamorphically enhanced for your widescreen-viewing appreciation. This is a solid video presentation on several fronts, including moderately smart sharpness levels and image detail (however, a few scenes demonstrate some softness), a vibrant color scheme, and deep black levels. Contrasts are fairly impressive but inconsistent; some images are more pronounced than others. Shadow detail is mostly agreeable, although only a few shadier and dark-lit scenes came across as slightly muddy. The print is generally clean, although there is some occasional speckling and dirt noticeable on the print, and there is some moderate edge-enhancement at times. These are few and far in between; overall, this is a satisfying if mildly flawed transfer.
Audio:
Extras:
Final Thoughts
Por la Libre presents a wonderful movie in a generally satisfying presentation. What more could one ask for? I also have now become an unwaveringly devoted flag-waving fan of Ana de la Reguera, the lovely and talented actress who gave the role of Maria both incandescent beauty and dramatic weight. I could watch her in anything. Now, getting past my fanboy appreciation of Ms. de la Reguera, I also appreciated the acting prowess of the entire cast, especially the two leads. What a fine little film this turned out to be! True the DVD is light on extras (there's nothing save for a few trailers), but based on content and presentation alone, Por la Libre merits a recommendation.
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